RoadVitals

1997 Jaguar XK8 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Aug 16, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
37%
of 30 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Jaguar XK8 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 16, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JAGUAR XK8. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND SLOWING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

NHTSA ID
11120451
Incident
Aug 16, 2018
Mileage
142,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 10, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 JAGUAR XK8. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOPPING CENTER AND WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT, SHE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE TENSION BAR FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $18,000. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,604. UPDATED 04/28/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10261454
Incident
Mar 5, 2009
Mileage
44,604 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 24, 2006

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED, BROKEN CHAIN, BENT VALVES. JAG SERVICE SAID '97 XK8 HAD FAULTY TENSIONERS. MOST WARRANTY REPLACED. MANY NHTSA COMPLAINTS & TSB'S ON THIS FAILURE. JAG. IS AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. JAG. AGREED TO PAY FOR 1/2 REPAIR, IF I BOUGHT A NEW JAG. NOT ACCEPTABLE! DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED ON THE FREEWAY FOR JAG TO TAKE NOTICE! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM! NOT JUST SERVICE BULLETINS! BOTH SERVICE AND SALES SAID THAT THESE TENSIONERS WILL FAIL! REVISED TENSIONERS WERE USED ON LATER MODELS! *JB

NHTSA ID
10153626
Incident
Mar 12, 2006
Mileage
61,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 11, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS MADE WITH A PLASTIC COATING THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED IN LATER MODELS. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10067377
Incident
Apr 12, 2004
Mileage
39,000 mi
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 30, 2004

JAGUAR HAS 40,000 L997 MODEL XK8 SOLD FOR $75,0000. NEEDS NEW ENGINE! DEALER WONT TAKE OF EXPENSE OF REPLACING IT. WEB SAYS THEY HAVE FAULTY TENSIONERS, AND CYLINDER LINERS. *LA

NHTSA ID
10068129
Incident
Apr 28, 2004
Mileage
43,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

PLASTIC GUIDE ON TIMING CHAIN BROKE,WHICH BROKE TIMING CHAIN,WHICH BROKE 2 VALVES AND SCOURED THE PISTON AND CYLINDER WALL.

NHTSA ID
10068998
Incident
Aug 15, 2003
Mileage
87,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 10, 2003

1997 JAGUAR XK8 SUDDENLY STALLS OUT COMPLETELY DURING FREEWAY DRIVING. OTHER LISTINGS AT NHTSA REGARDING THIS. POTENTIALLY FATAL ISSUE AS THE CAR CANNOT BE STEERED OFF THE ROAD EASILY. NO WARNING OF FAILURE - RESULTING IN FOLLOWING TRAFFIC HAVING TO BREAK LANE SUDDENLY TO AVOID THE STALLED JAG. THIS IS REALLY SERIOUS STUFF.*AK

NHTSA ID
10021366
Incident
Jun 2, 2003
Mileage
66,800 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 12, 2002

WHILE DRIVING ON DUAL HIGHWAY THE ENGINE SIMPLY STOPPED! WITH NO POWER ASSIST, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE SHOULDER. I WAITED A SHORT TIME THEN RESTARTED AND CONTINUED ON. DEALER COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE. DT

NHTSA ID
769615
Incident
Mar 3, 2000
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 22, 2001

3 TIMES WHILE TRAVELING 55 TO 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. EACH TIME I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND UNSUCCESFULLY ATTEMPTED A ROLLING RESTART. UPON GETTING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AT THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE A SUCCESSFUL RESTART AND RESUME NORMAL DRIVING. THE LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL AND POWER STEERING WHILE IN TRAFFIC IS A DISCONCERTING EXPERIENCE. I WAS NOT GOING TO REPORT IT, HOWEVER I FOUND MYSELF DOING SOME RESEARCH ON YOUR WEBSITE WHERE I FOUND THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED TO SOMEONE ELSE. UPON FINDING THAT MY EXPERIENCE WAS NOT ISOLATED I FELT THAT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO YOU. THIS IS A WELL TAKEN CARE OF AUTOMOBILE DRIVEN ONLY SEVEN MONTHS OF THE YEAR AND STORED FOR 5 MONTHS. EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED THE WEATHER WAS WARM. *AK

NHTSA ID
741349
Incident
Jun 28, 2000
Engine
Filed Jan 5, 2001

VEHICLE HAS STALLED 7 TIMES IN THE LAST 20 MONTHS, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT PROBLEM ON FOUR OCCASIONS. *CJ

NHTSA ID
558815
Incident
Dec 28, 2000
Heating & air conditioningEngine
Filed Feb 1, 1999

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
608646
Incident
Dec 1, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .